Illinois House GOP leader looking at run for state treasurer

SPRINGFIELD — House Republican leader Tom Cross told his members today that he is looking at a run for state treasurer, potentially changing his career plans for the second time in a matter of weeks.

Cross informed his fractured House GOP caucus that he is “considering” running for treasurer, according to three House GOP sources. Cross also said he would keep his House seat but relinquish his leadership role by early October, the sources said.

Cross, the House Republican legislative leader since 2003, had anticipated a statewide run for attorney general under the belief that Lisa Madigan, who holds the post, would seek the governor’s office. But he switched course when she announced for re-election and re-affirmed his desire to remain as the House Republican leader. But his dalliance with the statewide run had cause rank-and-file legislators to call for a leader totally focused on picking up more House seats. Democrats control the House 71-47.

Cross later released a statement saying he will announce his plans “within the next two weeks.”

He thanked colleagues in the House Republican caucus “for all of their support, hard work and repeated confidence in me to serve as the House Republican leader for the last 10 years. Serving as House Republican leader has been an immense privilege and a humbling honor, and I will forever cherish the friendships, the successes and, yes, even the battles.”

He asked his colleagues to start putting together a succession plan. Multiple people spoke up in the Wednesday conference call, suggesting that a date be called soon for a selection of a new leader, possibly as soon as mid-September, according to one House Republican lawmaker.

Among lawmakers who have expressed interest are Reps. Jim Durkin of Westchester, Ray Poe of Springfield and Dwight Kay of Glen Carbon. Kay is a short-timer at the Capitol who may have a tough re-election race of his own, factors that put him in a tough position to make a leadership run.

Durkin derives his political strength from fellow suburbanites while Poe’s base is downstate in what is currently shaping up as a likely showdown between the two more senior House Republicans who have thrown their hats into the ring.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Mike Frerichs of Champaign is an announced candidate who just last week won the slating of Cook County Democrats.

Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, had considered running for treasurer but decided to run for re-election. Murphy urged Cross to seek the treasurer’s job.

“It sounds like Tom Cross is potentially taking on a different challenge, and I hope he does. I think it would be good for the state and good for the party,” Murphy said.

Republican Treasurer Dan Rutherford opted to run for governor instead of seeking a second term. On the Democratic side, state Sen. Mike Frerichs of Champaign, has gotten the backing of the Cook County Democratic Party.